Happy New Year to all! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Now that things are winding down from the festivities, we want to share a couple things to look forward to from us in the coming year:

More Selection! We are always on the look out for American Made products that exemplify Western and Southwestern Décor styles. If this describes a product you know that you do not see on our site, let us know! Find our contact info here:https://www.westbysouthwestdecor.com/ You can always see what products are new in our social media feeds or on our website in the upper right corner under “What’s New”.

Houzz! If you are decorating, remodeling or building new we recommend using Houzz.com to plan your project, find reputable professionals near you, and find the products you need to make your space suit you. We recently started a profile (find it here) and will continue to build and network through that in 2015! It is such a great way to share ideas!

A huge thank you to all of our customers and suppliers who made 2014 a great year! We can’t wait to see what 2015 brings!

Order Early - beautifully hand-crafted and genuine Native American Made Christmas Ornaments for 2013! Look at these brightly colored Navajo Etchware ornaments - comes with a certificate of Authenticity and signed by the artists. Sold individually. Limited quantities - order early!

Look at these brightly colored Navajo Folk Art Horse Ornaments - each hand carved and hand painted by Navajo Artists. Comes with a certificate of Authenticy and signed by the artist. Sold inviddually.Supplies are limited - so order early!

FYI, if anyone wants to order any of our products seen on our Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter pages, or any other image/site, just give us a call at 866-376-2985 during normal business hours (9 am - 8 pm CST) and we will help you get it ordered!

Our customer know we love providing personal service resulting in happy customers. Just remember, the majority of our items are 'Custom Made to Order' so allow time for our quality products to be made for you.

On many of the metal products offered by West by Southwest Decor, we offer an option of three patina finishes: Natural Rust Patina, Blackened Iron Patina, and Copper Verdigris Patina. However, many customers ask us 'What is a Patina finish?' so we decided it was time to provide this information and educate our customers so they can make an informed decision about the color choice they like. All patina finishes on our products are topped with a clear coating to keep the products from changing color further in the future.Patina refers to a type of finish on metal that is created when the bare metal is exposed to the elements and a special chemical process that rusts the metal. This gives the metal an old worn and weathered look which is very popular for creating a rustic look to your home decor. However, the patina finish is not to be confused with a solid pignemted color like paint. According to Wikipedia, "The word "patina" comes from the Latin for "shallow dish"... Figuratively, patina can refer to any fading, darkening or other signs of age, which are felt to be natural or unavoidable (or both). The chemical process by which a patina forms is called patination, and a work of art coated by a patina is said to be patinated."Rust Patina offers a reddish brown color in varying degrees to the product finish. As metal rusts, depending on the elements in the recycled steel, it can result in varying shades of red and brown, going from light to dark within the same space.Blackened Iron Patina offers a dark bluish black color finish that resembles a piece of metal that has been blackened by the smoke of a fire, not a solid black color, but black in a mixture of shades blended together in varying degrees.Copper Verdigris Patina is a beautiful finish that resembles an old copper penny with a mixture of vivid greens and reddish copper in varying shades. The word verdigris comes from the alteration of the word vert-de-Grèce which means Green of Greece.Again, our patina finishes are topped with a clear coat to prevent any changes in the finish over time. See a good example of the various Steel Wall Clocks with the three types of patina finishes here: http://www.westbysouthwestdecor.com/clocks-wall-c-120.html

Being a horse owner, it was very hard to watch the news video from the NY TIMES Retro Report called "Wild Horses: No Home on the Range" video . Although it's heartbreaking, it forces us to look at what happens when our hearts are bigger than our purses or resources.... We leave you to decide for yourselves - watch the video here: http://nyti.ms/11K2pgDThere must be a humane and practical thing to do....

Howdy folks - Just ran across a great, short little article by the New York Times Magazine called "The Cowgirl Way" (Julie Bosman, 3/29/13) where the life of the cowgirl, beginning at a young age, is shown in 16 photos... According to Bosman, these are photos of Junior Rodeo Cowboys Association members (currently comprised of about 90 boys and 90 girls throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico), with the oldest participants being only age 19 and the youngest participant being age 2. The JRCA offers about 50 different events for the youth. A great visual show. Hope you all get to enjoy it! FYI - the photo above is of Pick My Gift Owner with her horse Polo Lolo Jessie, grand-daughter of Jessie James (NCHA World Champion) and Cal Bar (NCHA World Champion).Happy Trails!

When choosing your Western or Southwestern lighting fixtures for your ranch or western themed home, most people will simply find a piece they like, hook it up, and turn it on. What they are missing here is the importance of choosing the right lighting level to make the impact they want. The correct lighting set up can transform a room from dark and boring to illuminating and interesting. Interestingly, it has been shown that lighting has the biggest impact on our overall mood. Especially true to room with little natural sunlight, indoor light fixtures can create a space that will brighten are mood and raise our energy level. Simply adding a lot of light to a room is not enough; you have to know where to add the light and which fixtures to use to create the best end result. For instance, a great looking vanity light bar with real turquoise stone and burnished steel accents – great for the ranch bathroom or bar area!

Decorative pendant lights are a great alternative to table and floor lights. They will provide the same level of lighting without taking up any space. They also work wonders when used over kitchen islands. The pendant light will provide a focused pillar of light that shines downward. They should be used to highlight a table or furniture piece.

A decorative chandelier is often considered the jewelry of a room as it offers that “wow” factor to draw in interest. Chandeliers are most commonly used in entryways, living rooms, and over dining areas. However, ever since well-known designer Tracy Porter was interviewed on The Early Show, people are expanding their usage of chandeliers. She noted that they can be used as a lighting source over beds for a romantic feel, or in the bathroom for an unexpected twist. A beautifully designed and American Made chandelier with Southwestern accents looks great in the ranch house or adobe home.

Western and Southwestern Wall Sconces Sconces will add a soft light to the area they are placed. Since they are fixed to the wall, the placement of a wall sconce is very important. Place one on each side or your desk or work area to add a soft light source that will be kind to weary eyes. If you want to avoid table lamps, they can be fixed on the wall above a side table for a nice alternative. Lastly, if you want to highlight a piece of art place one wall sconce on each side of the piece. If you enjoy reading in bed, place one sconce next to your headboard on each side. Wall sconces will not provide your room with the light needed for daily activities, but will provide a great light source for those times that you want to relax.

Today we highlighted our Desert Diamond Collection of Burnished Steel and Turquoise accented Lighting fixtures - all are American Made in the USA to order and are available from West by Southwest Decor. Order yours today - but allow 2-4 weeks for production....you will be glad you did!

Western and Southwestern décor has seen dramatic changes since it was first introduced in the 1600s. It started out as dark, heavy furniture pieces that were made for functionality and durability. The durability has withstood the times, while pure functionality has been overshadowed by adding elements made exclusively for design. The Mexican Indians can be credited with adding ornate religious designs, hammered tin, and pops of color. The ranchers, on the other hand, get all the credit for adding leather hides, iron, and animal prints to the mix.

The history of Western and Southwestern décor is based on a simple way of living. Ranchers would work with their livestock all day, growing comfortable in using heavy iron for branding and other jobs. When they would return home and see a need for a functional piece, they would use what they knew. Animal hides and iron were most likely used because they were available and would withstand the everyday wear and tear. The decorative elements were added from the Indians strong religious beliefs. They wanted their everyday items to incorporate something that was so strongly rooted within them. Today, our Western and Southwestern décor reflects many of the same principles that were alive back then. We have a need for functionality, and a want for originality. All of the items listed on our West by Southwest décor store reflect the true nature of the original designs, and the majority of the items are handmade, one of a kind originals. You can step back in time and encompass a simpler way of living.

Our made to order in the USA wall sconce lamps will provide just the right amount of history for your home. The turquoise and diamond shaped steel accents are indicative of the Navajo Indian decorative touches, while the shade and functionality reflects the ranching inspired elements. Take a look at theDesert Diamond & Turquoise Bent Arrow Wall Sconce for a great piece to add to your home. It will provide a rich historical feel and a mood enhancing light.

Updating our products daily, I came across this great southwestern style table lamp and had to blog ALL about it. It is a must have if you are in transition from turning your home into your Southwestern homestead. Not only is it made in the USA, like most of our products, it's made to order. What is so special about this 33" hand poured pottery lamp? For starters, we love that the shade is hand painted, available in three different shade types (Buffalo, stars, and Navajo diamond), the wooden lamp finial is included and the distressed chocolate brown finish is the perfect finishing touch to this classy piece. What we love the most about it though, is the price. You get a pretty big bang for your buck. I recently aquired two for my guest bedroom and I am happy to say it matches the turquoise and tan color scheme perfectly, though it took three weeks to arrive, it was well worth the wait.

Many people would love to incorporate a few western décor items into their existing space. The problem they face is how to do this without it looking and feeling forced. There are some décor items that will incorporate well into your current existing design image that will offer just the right amount of that 'western touch' to get you started. The following three items are a must-have for the western loving decorator and will get you off to a great start on having the west take over your home.

1. Throw pillows and blankets: These items will add a great western feel to your home without feeling out of place with the rest of your décor. Because they are not stationary items they can be replaced often to create different looks. WestbySouthwestdecor.com offers a great pillow and throw blanket set called April Breezes Horse Tapestry Throw and Pillow Set. It is a beautiful set that will add a rustic western feel to your home. The horses are beautifully depicted on a woven blanket and perfectly sized throw pillow. The best part is that both of these items are made in the USA.

2. Leather Lampshades: Lampshades are also easy to install and will add a touch of western to your décor. A leather lampshade can be installed on your existing table lamps. The Appaloosa Horse Hand Painted Leather Lampshadewill match great with the blanket and pillow set mentioned earlier. It is a beautiful hand painted leather lampshade that is available in either pigskin or rawhide. It also comes in three sizes so finding one to fit your lamps should be easy.

3. Wall Sculptures: A final way to add western style to your décor is by installing a wall sculpture. Wall sculptures are becoming more popular in the world of interior decorating due to the fact that they are easy to add but make a big impact. If you were going to use the items mentioned above I would suggest also purchasing the Desert Cactus and Moon Scene 60 in Burnished Steel Wall Sculpture. It is the perfect color to add a touch of rustic elegance to your home. The scene goes great with the horse décor and is sure to become a favorite. The canyons and cactus in the scene make you feel like you are actually there. These three items will add a touch of western or southwestern beauty to your home without overtaking your current style. By adding these three simple things you can change the entire feel of your den or family space.